Democrats challenge White House ballroom construction in legal filing
Approximately 150 Democratic lawmakers are urging that the Trump administration must have congressional approval to proceed with construction on the White House ballroom, citing constitutional requirements.
A coalition of about 150 Democratic lawmakers has filed a legal brief asserting that construction on the White House East Wing cannot continue without express consent from Congress. The group, which includes Reps. Robert Garcia and Jared Huffman, as well as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, contends that the President lacks the authority to demolish or build structures on federal property without Congressional authorization and funding.
The lawmakers argue that the Constitution grants Congress exclusive control over federal property and that no appropriation has been made for the $400 million demolition and construction project. They pointed out that only $2.5 million has been allocated for routine maintenance and minor repairs, emphasizing that Congress does not finance large-scale construction with minimal funding.
The administration, however, claims a legal basis for the project under a statute that allows for routine maintenance of the executive mansion. Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, has referred to the reconstruction of the East Wing, which includes a ballroom, as a national security matter, particularly following recent security incidents in the vicinity.
Previous legal decisions have temporarily halted construction until Congress approves the project. Two ethics-focused nonprofits recently filed amici briefs, warning against potential conflicts of interest stemming from donations to the ballroom project from individuals with business ties to the government, urging that funding should come from Congress to prevent executive overreach.